⚽️🇮🇹 Pulisic and McKennie speak ahead of Juventus v Milan!
In this week’s Italian soccer digest, we're also looking back at Inter's incredible title win, we're learning about Fabio Cannavaro's return to Serie A, and much more!
⭐️⭐️ Inter seal scudetto in historic Derby della Madonnina
Inter’s 20th Serie A title was made official in historic fashion on Monday, with their 2-1 victory over San Siro co-tenants AC Milan in the Derby della Madonnina.
⭐️ This marks the first-ever scudetto to be won in a Derby della Madonnina - or any derby match, for that matter. It secured Inter their highly coveted seconda stella (keep reading to find out what that term means).
🥳 The title win sparked massive celebrations in Milan, with jubilation on the Piazza Duomo going late into the night. Weather scuppered plans for an open-top bus parade through the city on Tuesday - but that has been moved to Sunday, along with Inter’s rescheduled home match against Torino (6.30am ET on Paramount+).
🎵 Fans of the correct vintage to remember Italia ‘90 will appreciate this celebration compilation clip, set to Luciano Pavarotti’s iconic and emotional rendition of Nessun Dorma.
🏆 Tim Weah assists Juventus into Coppa Italia Final meeting with Atalanta
After prevailing in this week’s semifinal second legs, Juve and Atalanta will head to Rome on May 15th to contest the Coppa Italia Final.
🦓 The Bianconeri booked their slot in the final on Tuesday night when a 2-1 loss at Lazio was enough to progress 3-2 on aggregate.
🇺🇸 USMNT star Tim Weah provided the assist for the decisive Arkadiusz Milik 83rd-minute goal (see above). Weah boasts a goal and an assist in four matches of this season’s Coppa Italia (you may remember his sensational long-range strike against Salernitana in the Round of 16).
👏 Atalanta scored two injury time goals in their second-leg clash with Fiorentina to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit to progress 4-2 on aggregate.
🟨 La Dea will be without star forward Gianluca Scamacca in the final due to yellow card accumulation.
🏆 Juve is seeking a record-extending 15th Coppa Italia win, while Atalanta will be looking to lift the trophy for the first time since 1963.
🙌 Fabio Cannavaro is back!
Legendary World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro has returned to Serie A after being appointed manager of Udinese for the remainder of the season.
👋 Cannavaro, who represented Napoli, Parma, Inter and Juve in a storied playing career, was announced as Gabriele Cioffi’s replacement on Monday.
🗣️ “We have to pick the players’ heads up and make them understand this club has a big history,” he said at his first press conference.
📈 Udinese sits above the relegation zone on goal difference, with six games remaining to secure their Serie A status.
⚽️ Cannavaro’s first game will take place tonight, when Udinese resume their home match with Roma, which was postponed two weeks ago following Evan Ndicka’s collapse (good news: Ndicka is now cleared to play again). The game will restart at 1-1 with 18 minutes of regular time to be played.
🇮🇹 This is Cannavaro’s first managerial appointment in Serie A, after coaching Benevento in Serie B last season. The former centerback has previously managed clubs in China and Saudi Arabia and also took charge of the Chinese national team in 2019.
🏆 Cannavaro famously captained the Italian national team to glory at the 2006 World Cup, and was nicknamed "Il Muro di Berlino" (“The Berlin Wall”) for his incredible defensive feats at the German tournament. The Neapolitan won the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year Awards that year, and remains the only defender ever to win the latter.
🇺🇸 Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic prepare for the Derby d’America
This Saturday, Juventus host Milan in a match we’re calling the Derby d’America (12pm ET on Paramount+). The match could see USMNT stars Weston McKennie and Tim Weah pitted against Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah.
🗣️ Ahead of the crunch tie between the teams occupying second and third spots in the table, Lega Serie A USA brought Pulisic and McKennie together for a press conference for North American media.
🥹 AP reported on the longstanding friendship between the Juventus and Milan stars, who met at the age of 13 at a national team training camp. “I was scared to take the elevator, so he used to walk with me up the stairs, like 11 flights of stairs, after training all the time,” said McKennie of his loyal friend.
😂 “I have more fun playing with him, so I don’t really have to worry about him,” admitted McKennie, who will reunite with Pulisic when the USMNT reconvenes ahead of the Copa America in six weeks. Read the Washington Post feature here.
💪 “I’ve actually been surprised with how difficult a lot of the games are in this league,” said Pulisic to ESPN. ”I think it’s been a great test for me.”
🗓️ Watch the Derby D’America with us in Baltimore
As noted, four of the USMNT’s biggest stars could be in action in Turin - and you could watch the game with us in Baltimore at our free watch party!
🎉 The event at Baltimore’s Power Plant Live! will feature exclusive giveaways, drink specials, and the opportunity to hang with like-minded Serie A fans while watching one of the biggest games of the season.
🎟️ Entry is completely free, but you’ll need to sign up for tickets here.
🏀 Social Post of the Week: Tajon Buchanan knows his hoops
Inter’s Tajon Buchanan, who is officially the first-ever Canadian player to win the scudetto, had his NBA team logo knowledge put to the test this week… and his response was nothin’ but net!
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🎯 ICYMI: Alexis Saelemaekers’ perfect finish helps Bologna’s European credentials
Shortly before Inter sealed their scudetto fate on Monday, Bologna took a huge step in their quest for Champions League qualification with a 3-1 win at Roma. The pick of the goals was Alexis Saelemaekers’ magnificent dink over Giallorossi goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
👏 The win for Thiago Motta’s men at the Stadio OIimpico kept Bologna in fourth spot, seven points clear of fifth-place Roma (who have a game in hand).
🐺 Roma can close the gap to four points today when they play the remaining 18 minutes of their aforementioned rescheduled match at Udinese.
👊 Both Roma and Bologna are currently in the right positions to secure Champions League soccer next season. Due to the recent success of Italian teams in Europe, Serie A will have five automatic places in next season’s expanded competition.
💬 Calcio Conversations
After their triumphant night at San Siro, you might hear Interisti talking about their seconda stella or ‘second star’ this week.
🤷♂️ What does it mean? In Serie A, teams earn the right to stitch a gold star above the crest on their shirt if they win 10 league titles. As Inter’s 2023/24 triumph was their 20th scudetto, they can now add a second gold star to their crest for next season.
🧐 Why does it matter? As well as being a landmark moment, it is a source of particular bragging rights for Inter fans, as their rivals Milan, who they defeated to win the title, are stuck on 19 titles - which means they now trail by one title in the all-time ranking.
Juventus lead the way with three stars to represent their 36 scudetti, while Genoa are one title short of earning their first star… although they have been stuck on nine titles for 100 years now!
👀 Parma leading the Serie B promotion race
Three teams will come up from Serie B - Italy’s second tier - to compete in Serie A next season.
🆙 As it stands, Parma are set to return to the top-flight after three seasons away. With four rounds to go, they lead the table on 70 points.
🤞 Como, who sit in second spot (67 points), are aiming to return to Serie A for the first time in 21 years.
👏 Recent Serie A participants Venezia (64) and Cremonese (60) are breathing down their necks, but currently stand to be involved in the play-offs.
😮 Catanzaro (56), Palermo (52), Brescia (46) and Sampdoria (45) are in the other play-off spots as it stands, but only nine points separates eighth and 17th place, so everything is still up for grabs!
🧐 How do the playoffs work? The top two teams are promoted automatically, while the third and final promotion place is contested between the six teams that finish between third and eighth.
First, there are one-legged quarterfinals (6th v 7th and 5th v 8th), with the winners earning a semifinal against the 3rd and 4th-placed sides respectively. These ties are played over two legs, with the higher-ranked sides being at home for the return leg. The final is also a two-legged affair, with the winner earning promotion.
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports and Paramount+
Friday, April 26th
Frosinone v Salernitana (2.45pm ET)
Saturday, April 27th
Lecce v Monza (9am ET)
Juventus v AC Milan (12pm ET)
Lazio v Hellas Verona (2.45pm ET)
Sunday, April 28th
Inter v Torino (6.30am ET)
Bologna v Udinese (9am ET)
Atalanta v Empoli (12pm ET)
Napoli v Roma (12pm ET)
Fiorentina v Sassuolo (2.45pm ET)
Monday, April 29th
Genoa v Cagliari (2.45pm ET)
🇨🇦 Reading this in Canada? Watch ALL Serie A games LIVE on Fubo - Try it for free! 🇨🇦
👋 Grazie e arrivederci!
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